How do you pick a winner for Sunday’s NFC championship game between the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings? Seriously, how do you?

Both teams slumped down the stretch during the regular season. Both teams had first-round bye weeks. Both teams dominated in their first playoff games last week.

I made a sarcastic pick in Sunday’s editions of The Forum. I’ve been so bad at making picks during this postseason, going 2-6 in the first two rounds.

I firmly believe that the Indianapolis Colts will beat the New York Jets in the early game Sunday, but I can’t pick a Saints-Vikings winner. Feel free to make your picks below, but I think I’m going to skip this one.

But if you’re going to twist my arm, I’ll take the Saints. I don’t want to ruin a good thing for Vikings fans, who should know by now that me picking a team to win is the kiss of death for that team.

How big of a loss would it be for the Minnesota Vikings to play Sunday’s NFC championship game without Percy Harvin?

Harvin’s a Pro Bowl return man, so on special teams it will be felt. But I’d argue Harvin is more valuable on offense, and if the rookie receiver ends up missing the game because of migraines, it would be a big blow to quarterback Brett Favre and the offense.

Harvin dealt with the migraine issue earlier this year, missing a Week 13 victory against Cincinnati.The Vikings won that game handily, with the defense holding the Bengals to just 210 total yards of offense.

But in it, Favre posted one of his worst games of the season. He didn’t have the swagger Vikings fans have seen time and time again this year. His numbers were ho-hum – 192 yards, 56 percent completion rate, a TD, and an interception – and he had his worst QB rating of the season.

The following week, in a 26-7 loss at Carolina, Harvin returned to the field from the migraine issue but was held to just one catch for 10 yards. Favre posted his second-worst QB rating of the season.

Harvin’s a playmaker, and his presence will be needed if the Vikings hope to march out of the Superdome with a victory.